Division of Community Nutrition

Subject: Certification and Change of Certification Periods Policy: CRT 07.0 Reference: §C.F.R. 246.7(f) Effective: August 1, 2025 Supersedes: August 12, 2013

Page 1 of 2 I. Policy:

Certification shall be conducted periodically to evaluate the individual’s residential, categorical, financial, and nutritional eligibility in accordance with the following time frames.

II. Procedure(s):

A. Crossroads shall automatically end all certifications on the certification end date.

B. The schedule for certification is as follows:

1) Pregnant Woman – for the duration of pregnancy and up to six (6) weeks postpartum.

2) Postpartum Woman – woman up to six (6) months after termination of pregnancy, including stillbirth, miscarriage, or therapeutic abortion.

3) Breastfeeding Woman – woman up to one (1) year based on the actual delivery date. For a Breastfeeding mom of an infant with a birthday on the first day of the month, the certification period for mom ends on the last day of the month prior to the infant’s birthday, since he / she was not an infant on any day of the month he/she turned one.

4) Infant – up to the first birthday. For an infant whose birthday is on the first day of a month, the certification period ends on the last day of the month prior to the birthday, since he / she was not an infant on any day of the month he /she turned one.

5) Child – for twelve (12) month periods, up to his / her fifth birthday. For children whose fifth birthday is on the first of a month, the certification period ends on the last day of the month prior to the fifth birthday, since the child was not eligible on any day of the month he /she turned five.

C. Change in Certification Periods

1) Breastfeeding Woman – A woman who discontinues breastfeeding and is less than six (6) months postpartum, shall continue to receive WIC benefits as a postpartum woman if she was certified due to a medical or nutritional condition.

a) If a woman was certified based solely on breastfeeding her infant, determine if she meets nutrition risk criteria that allows her to remain on the program as a postpartum woman. If not, WIC benefits must end.

Division of Community Nutrition

Subject: Certification and Change of Certification Periods Policy: CRT 07.0 Reference: §C.F.R. 246.7(f) Effective: August 1, 2025 Supersedes: August 12, 2013

Page 2 of 2 b) If a breastfeeding woman discontinues breastfeeding and is more than six (6) months postpartum, she shall no longer be categorically eligible to participate and shall be removed from the program.

c) Infant – If an infant was certified using only mother’s risk and the mother ceases to breastfeed, determine if the infant is eligible to receive WIC benefits.